Happy memorial day weekend! As we consider those who have died while serving the country, it’s also a good time to be grateful that rates of war and battle deaths have gone down dramatically. So all the more reason to raise a glass to those who have both lost their lives, and for, hopefully, more peaceful times ahead. That being said, there are also some excellent shows this weekend!
5) American Football, Pure Bathing Culture at Warsaw
If you didn’t get the memo about American Football re-uniting five years ago then I’m not sure what to tell you, but they have just released their second post-reformation album, imaginatively titled LP3. The band play two nights at Warsaw this weekend, with Friday night sold out and Saturday having tickets still available at the time of writing. Opening both shows is Pure Bathing Culture, whose 80s-tinged Night Pass album (released last month) feels like it shouldn’t quite land all the punches but it’s something of a perfect anti-time-capsule. Friday/Saturday 8pm
4) Filthy Friends, Dressy Bessy at Music Hall of Williamsburg
The best news about a new Filthy Friends record and tour is that Scott McCaughey is doing ok after suffering a stroke in 2017. The group consists of some heavy hitters in the indie-world, led by Corin Tucker (Sleater Kinney), Peter Buck (R.E.M.) and stalwarts McCaughey and Kurt Bloch are joined by new drummer Linda Pitmon, who also has a stellar resume (she replaced the equally impressive Bill Rieflin). The band’s second album, Emerald Valley was released a couple of weeks ago. Friday 8pm
3) No Vacation, Okey Dokey at Bowery Ballroom
If you want to hear summer this weekend then look no further than San Francisco’s No Vacation at Bowery Ballroom on Sunday. Things don’t get much sunnier and breezier than the band’s Intermission EP, but openers Okey Dokey take that challenge and run with it. Sunday 8pm
2) Pile, C.H.E.W., Pelican Movement at Music Hall of Williamsburg
You could make a good case for calling Pile the flagship band of Exploding in Sound records; an excellent band on an excellent label. The band’s latest album, Green and Gray has all the Pile trademarks, technical playing, pounding drums, multiple twists and turns per song and incredibly loud and quiet moments at the drop of a hat. Thursday 7pm
1) Laura Stevenson, Mal Blum, Completions at Rough Trade
The Big Freeze is Laura Stevenson’s fifth album and was released a couple of months ago on Don Giovanni Records. The album is a low-key triumph, with an emphasis on acoustic guitar and her voice, The Big Freeze definitely has a cabin-in-the-woods-in-winter feel to it. If the headliner wasn’t reason enough, openers Mal Blum and Completions should peak your interest. Friday 8pm
